Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-08-20

i"Old Crotchety," which some one had
given him. He lived alone in an
Old log-cabin mile from the village,
and remote from any other house. He
sometimes visited the village to Luy
the simplest necessaries of life, but
would converse with no one. When
spoken to he would barely reply to the
salutation, and walk on. He had nc
friends, no visitors, no employment but
to walk about in an aimless way. He
was generally regarded as harmless
old lunatic. Much of his time in fair
weather was passed on the bench in
front of his cabin: and here I found
him on this morning. He smiled as /
came up, took my hand, and made me
sit down beside him.
Il knew you would come" he said.
Then he took off my cap, and smoothed
my hair away from my forehead, look
ing fxedly into my face; but presently
IN absent look came into his eyes. rs
though his thoughts were far away.
When he recalled himself he asked my
name again, and inquired who were
my parents, and where I lived.
"Have you a knife, John?" was his
next question. Knives we're scarce in
those days, before Americans had
learned much of the art of working in
steel and my reply was that I never
had owned one. He took from his
pocket an exauisitely-fnished Sheffield
pocket-knife with four blades, and
placed it in my hand. I looked at him
with amazement; such an article as that
could not be found in the village.
II have had it many years, 2" he said.
"It is yours now.
My heart was full; I broke down
completely.
81 don't deserve it, sir, I sobbed. II
treated you badly yesterday"
"Never mind that, John. You'll be
kind to me after this. Tell your good
mother that I thank her for letting you
come, and sometime it would please
me to have you come again. Good
bye, now"
He stopped and kissed my forehead.
His eyes followed me as I went away:
and until the trees hid him from me I
saw that he looked after me.
1 told my mother the particulars of
my visit, and showed her my beautiful
knife. She was pleased, and appeared
interested as well as puzzled; and as
she said little, I thought she was trying
to find some explanation to all this.
For several weeks after I neither saw
nor heard of the old hermit Then,
one afternoon, little Alice came run
ming into the back yard where I was
piling wood, and said there was "a
funny old man" out by the gate. I
went out, expecting to find Crotty; and
there he was. He smiled, took my
hand, and held it while he talked. He
said that he was going by here, and
seeing the little girl, he knew she Yves
my sister by her looks; 80 he STOP ped,
hoping to see me. Just then my
mother came to the door, and seeing
who it was, asked him to come in and
sit down. He sighed YEARLY and shook
mis- head. I could not help noticing
how much feebler he looked than when
I last saw him.
THANK you, madam, he said, "but
it's many and many a year since I have
any dwelling but my own"
II was just making cup of tea"
said my mother. won't you come in
and have some?"
With the hand that he still held I |
pulled him along; and Alice, with an
boldness, took hold of the |
other hand. He suffered us to lead
him into the house and place chair |
tor him; and presently he was drinking
Tea from one of our pattern |
cups. Mother tried to make him talk;
out he grew silent, and answered only |
with monosyllables. He finished his
cup, refused the offer of another, and |
'ose Immediately to 60.
THANK you, madam" he said.
Goodbye, my boy-and God bless
turning toward us, added with a voice
If quiet sadness: II feel that 1 am
going on long journey SOON"
We understood him; nor was he mis-
aiken. This was his last appearance
n the village. Less than a week after
! neighbor called at our house just at
lark and informed us that Old Crotty
vas dying. He had been passing by
he hut and from curiosity looked in.
The old man was lying on his bed, APP
'arently in the last. stages OF physical
weakness.
Should he go for doctor? the Wis
tor asked. The recluse said no; he
vas dying of old age, and was we'll sat-
SIZED to die. Could the visitor do any,
hing for him? Yes; he wished he
would send Johnny Bender to him
rom the village.
I looked inquiringly at my mother.
We will both CO." she said. My
nother's way was always the same: she
would quickly resolve what to do, and
hen do it. Alice was taken to one of
he neighbors for the night; mother
,ut few articles which she thought
night be useful in basket. I took the
antern and we went forth on our mel
ncholy errand. AS we drew hear the
abin we saw that it was entirely dark.
knocked at the door.
"Who is it?" demanded q feeble
'Oica